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Omaha,
Texas - Once a railroad town
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, May 2012 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Not named after the city in Nebraska, Omaha had its name drawn from
a hat in 1886. Citizens had tired of the towns previous name of Morristown.
The eight or so contributors submitted names from their former state
of Alabama and Omaha came up the winner.
The town had a healthy population of 450 in 1890 and it remains a
vibrant community. |
Historical Marker:
OMAHA
On seidicum line,
the old Bowie-Red
River counties boundary surveyed in 1840. Thompson Morris laid
out "Morristown" in 1880, but post office was "Gravett." To
arbitrate, a drawing from a hat suggested "Omaha," for old home of
a settler from Alabama. Town is now a shipping center for plants and
farm products.
1966 |
Historical Marker
- 110 McLean Avenue
Site of Omaha
School
Land was first
purchased for a public school in Omaha in 1892 and a large wooden
building near the railroad tracks soon housed three teachers and 165
students. The community formed an independent school district in 1905
and built a new two-story brick structure the following year. It was
enlarged as necessary, including the addition of a rock gymnasium
erected by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) between 1938 and
1940. After a tornado damaged the property in 1950, the school merged
with nearby Naples at the urging of
a wealthy oilman and rancher who promised financial backing for the
consolidated district. The WPA gym was renovated for commercial use
by its new owner.
(1999)
Incise on back: Glenda Brown Scarborough Sandra Smith Forsyth |
Omaha, Texas
Landmarks/Attractions
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Road
grader/playground equipment
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, May 2012 |
Omaha, Texas
Forum
Subject:
Descendant's of Quanah Parker
I have been to Omaha and Palestine,
Texas in search of confirmation to no avail. I have been told
by family before their passing that my grandmother Nancy Louise
Johnson, born July 17, 1921 in Omaha, Texas, was a direct descendant
of Quanah
Parker. All birth records from this time, were destroyed in
a fire. Her parents were Oliver Vanner Johnson and Margaret Hayden.
Margaret Hayden passed away when Nancy was just 2 years old.
As the story goes, my grandmother, Nancy Louise Johnson, was sent
to live with a Hispanic family until she was 15 and Oliver Johnson
had remarried. She has a sister Rebecca Parker, who preceded her
in death. I don't know her birth. It was never clear to anyone exactly
how or if the connection is true. However, until the day she passed,
my grandmother, Nancy Louise Johnson held the look of a Comanche.
If there are any resources or information available that can help
us make some kind of connection to our heritage, I would greatly
appreciate. I am more concerned in validating our Native American
heritage. But, as I mentioned, there are no birth records available
(to my knowledge) that identify/confirm my grandmother's birth and
the nationalities of her and her parents. Please and thank you in
advance. - Sincerely, Jillian Hampton, Houston, Texas, July 24,
2017
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage or recent photos, please contact
us. |
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